1948 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

The 1948 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina were held on November 2, 1948, to select six Representatives for two-year terms from the state of South Carolina. Four incumbents were re-elected, but John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district was defeated in the Democratic primary by Hugo S. Sims, Jr. The seat remained with the Democrats along with the open seat in the 3rd congressional district and the composition of the state delegation remained solely Democratic.

1948 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

← 1946 November 2, 1948 (1948-11-02)[1] 1950 →

All 6 South Carolina seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party
 
Party Democratic
Last election 6
Seats won 6
Seat change Steady
Popular vote 133,730
Percentage 95.08%

District results

1st congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman L. Mendel Rivers of the 1st congressional district, in office since 1941, defeated Republican challenger W.T. Baggott.

General election results

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South Carolina's 1st congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic L. Mendel Rivers (incumbent) 24,527 89.1 −10.4
Republican W.T. Baggott 2,987 10.9 +10.9
No party Write-Ins 13 0.0 −0.5
Majority 21,540 78.2 −20.8
Turnout 27,527
Democratic hold

2nd congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman John J. Riley of the 2nd congressional district, in office since 1945, was defeated in the Democratic primary by Hugo S. Sims, Jr. who also defeated Republican W. Edward Moore in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
Hugo S. Sims, Jr. 33,747 53.7
John J. Riley 29,045 46.3

General election results

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South Carolina's 2nd congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hugo S. Sims, Jr. 27,677 96.4 −2.2
Republican W. Edward Moore 1,020 3.6 +3.6
Majority 26,657 92.8 −4.4
Turnout 28,697
Democratic hold

3rd congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman W.J. Bryan Dorn of the 3rd congressional district, in office since 1947, chose to not seek re-election and instead made an unsuccessful run for Senator. James Butler Hare won the Democratic primary and defeated Republican D.F. Merill in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
James Butler Hare 26,007 42.6
John C. Taylor 17,319 28.4
R.L. "Buck" Gamble 12,484 20.4
Leon Rice 5,270 8.6
Democratic primary runoff
Candidate Votes % ±%
James Butler Hare 38,266 65.3 +22.7
John C. Taylor 20,291 34.7 +6.3

General election results

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South Carolina's 3rd congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James Butler Hare 19,181 97.8 −2.1
Republican D.F. Merill 421 2.2 +2.2
No party Write-Ins 6 0.0 −0.1
Majority 18,760 95.6 −4.2
Turnout 19,608
Democratic hold

4th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman Joseph R. Bryson of the 4th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger James B. Gaston.

General election results

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South Carolina's 4th congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Joseph R. Bryson (incumbent) 26,098 94.9 −4.7
Republican James B. Gaston 1,410 5.1 +5.1
Majority 24,688 89.8 −9.4
Turnout 27,508
Democratic hold

5th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman James P. Richards of the 5th congressional district, in office since 1933, defeated Roy C. Cobb in the Democratic primary and Republican J.D. Hambright in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Democratic primary
Candidate Votes %
James P. Richards 26,268 60.6
Roy C. Cobb 17,070 39.4

General election results

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South Carolina's 5th congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James P. Richards (incumbent) 14,544 97.1 −2.9
Republican J.D. Hambright 428 2.9 +2.9
Majority 14,116 94.2 −5.8
Turnout 14,972
Democratic hold

6th congressional district

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Incumbent Democratic Congressman John L. McMillan of the 6th congressional district, in office since 1939, defeated Republican challenger F.L. Bradfield.

General election results

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South Carolina's 6th congressional district election results, 1948
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John L. McMillan (incumbent) 21,703 97.1 +0.2
Republican F.L. Bradfield 639 2.9 +2.9
Majority 21,064 94.2 −0.3
Turnout 22,342
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1948" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  • Jordan, Frank E. The Primary State: A History of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 1876-1962. pp. 107, 116, 125.
  • "Supplemental Report of the Secretary of State to the General Assembly of South Carolina." Reports and Resolutions of South Carolina to the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. Volume I. Columbia, SC: 1949, pp. 12–14.